How to help a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen lose weight

Your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a little too big, its weight is a little too high… Be careful! The consequences can be serious (cardiovascular diseases, shortness of breath, increased dysplasia, articulation problems…).
If you want to keep your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen healthy, you will have to make him lose weight.

In this article, find out how to make your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen lose weight, what are the right methods to make your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen lighter?

You will see that, just like humans, there are 2 ways to lose weight: by increasing physical activity and by eating an appropriate diet. This is what we will see in more detail below.

Whatever his level of daily activity, it is up to you to adapt the increase in physical exercise to what you can do and what your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen can do.

It’s up to you to choose between:

fast walking,

slow walking: 30 minutes, 1 hour or more,

run following you by foot, by bike,

swimming in a lake,

ball games, frisbee, ball,

agility sessions….

How to get a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen thinner – Modifying his nutrition

If you want your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen to lose weight, you must combine the increase in energy expenditure through increased physical exercise with a decrease in the caloric value of your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen’s diet.

The reduction in caloric intake should not be done by simply reducing the quantity of food given daily. In this case, you would risk to starve your dog, or even to not cover his nutritional needs enough….

The reduction in the caloric intake must be made through an adequate, balanced and, above all, less caloric diet.

Homemade food is to be avoided because it is difficult to measure the fat, protein, carbohydrate content, fibre intake, etc.

Of course, the croquettes will have to be chosen from among the premium quality ranges of the “veterinary” brands. See our article: Best croquettes for Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.

Indeed, these foods contain high quality nutrients with a good protein content and are adapted to each Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen according to its size, race, age and sometimes even its level of activity. During the diet period, he should be given only 80% of the recommended daily amount on the croquettes package.

Important: It is necessary to stop completely the sweets and other delicacies if you used to give them to him… It will be advisable to reserve for your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen on the quantity planned daily some croquettes which you can give him in guide of reward if you are in period of training.

Caution: To ensure that your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen does not have digestive problems or intestinal disorders, when you change its diet, you should do so gradually by gradually introducing the new food and reducing the amount of the old one.

Make your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen lose weight – For how long?

Weight loss for a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a long process that usually lasts for several months. So you have to be patient and weigh your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen every month to monitor your weight loss.

Of course, when the ideal weight is reached, it will be necessary to give it only 100% of the recommended daily amount on the pack of croquettes. But, I advise you to continue with the same croquettes. Indeed, it will stabilize its weight by keeping a good diet and well continue regular physical exercises. So your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen will not take back the pounds or the kilos so hard lost …